Thailand – List of Qualifications Exempt from Assessment (Appendix 3)

At a glance

Thai qualifications listed in this section are exempt from NZQA assessment for Skilled Migrant Category (SM) residence points under Appendix 3. [T-thailand] The exemption applies only if the qualification was awarded by one of the named Thai institutions, matches the qualification abbreviation, was awarded on or after the year stated in the awarding institutions table, and meets the additional requirements (e.g. four years of full‑time study for bachelor degrees). [T-thailand]

List of exempt qualifications and institutions

Academic qualifications recognised

Qualification	Abbreviation	NZQF level	SMC points
Bachelor of Arts	BA	7	50
Bachelor of Science	BS	7	50
Bachelor of Business Administration	BBA	7	50
Bachelor of Economics	BEC	7	50
Master of Arts	MA	8	50
Master in Communication Arts	MCA	8	50
Master of Economics	MEC	8	50
Master of Science	MS	8	50
Doctor of Philosophy	PhD	9	70

Bachelor degrees must show evidence of four years full‑time study. Shorter‑duration bachelor degrees must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment. [T-thailand]

If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the NZQF level stated, they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment. [T-thailand]

Awarding institutions and effective dates

Institution	Qualifications awarded from (and year)
Asian Institute of Technology	MS and PhD: 2000
Assumption University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
Bangkok University	BA, BBA, MA and PhD: 2003 MCA: 2010
Burapha University	BA, BBA, BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Chiang Mai University	BA, BEC, BS, MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2005
Chulabhorn Graduate Institute	MS and PhD: 2008
Chulalongkorn University	BA, BBA, BS, MS and PhD: 1995
Kasetsart University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 1995
Khon Kaen University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi	BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Maejo University	BA, BBA, BEC, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2010
Mahidol University	BA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000 BBA: 2008
Naresuan University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2014
National Institute of Development Administration	MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2000
Prince of Songkla University	BA, BBA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2010
Silpakorn University	BA, MA and PhD: 2010
Srinakharinwirot University	BA, BS, MA, MS and PhD: 2000
Suranaree University of Technology	BS, MS and PhD: 2010
Thammasat University	BA, BBA, BEC, BS, MA, MEC, MS and PhD: 2003

Application in decisions

An immigration officer verifies that:

1. the qualification appears in the Academic Qualifications Table;
2. the awarding institution is listed in the Awarding Institutions Table;
3. the qualification abbreviation matches the right‑hand column in the Awarding Institutions Table;
4. the qualification was awarded from or after the year stated in the Awarding Institutions Table;
5. the qualification is not excluded by the notes.

[T-thailand]

Points are awarded according to the NZQF level and SMC points shown in the table, not by comparison with any particular New Zealand qualification. [T-thailand]

Interpretation & edge cases

• Award certificates: Original language award certificates must be provided for all qualifications. [T-thailand]
• Honorary degrees: All honorary degrees must be referred to NZQA for assessment. [T-thailand]
• Study outside Thailand: Any listed qualification where study was completed at an institution outside Thailand, including any overseas campus of a Thai awarding institution, must be referred to NZQA. [T-thailand]
• Cross‑credited courses: All listed qualifications that contain cross‑credited courses or papers must be referred to NZQA. [T-thailand]
• Initial teacher training: All initial teacher training degrees must be referred to NZQA. [T-thailand]
• Awards after 2017: All qualifications awarded after 2017 must be referred to NZQA. [T-thailand]
• Shorter bachelor degrees: Bachelor degrees shorter than four years of full‑time study must be assessed by NZQA. [T-thailand]
• This list does not guarantee comparability to any New Zealand qualification for professional registration, employment, or salary purposes. [T-thailand]

Citations

• T-thailand — Thailand